Do The Danish Celebrate Midsummer?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Do the Danish celebrate midsummer?

Danes celebrate Midsummer’s Eve on the 23rd of June every year

. Called Sankt Hans Aften (St. John’s Night), the celebration is ostensibly in honor of the birthday of Saint John the Baptist, but shares more with the pagan traditions of Midsummer than with a Christian holiday.

Do they celebrate Midsummer in Denmark?


Most of Denmark’s holidays are based around the Christian calendar, with Christmas, Easter and the midsummer festival of Saint Hans among the most important

. Each of these holidays comes with its own traditions and family gatherings.

Which countries still celebrate Midsummer Day?

Midsummer is celebrated by some in

Denmark and Norway

but it’s not a national holiday in either country. Known as Sankthansaften (Saint John’s Eve) in Denmark and Norway, the celebrations take place on June 23, the day before Saint John’s Day.

What is Midsummer in Denmark?

Who celebrates Midsummer festival?

Midsummer was primarily an occasion for

young people

, but it was also celebrated in the industrial communities of central Sweden, where all mill employees were given a feast of pickled herring, beer and schnapps. It was not until the 1900s, however, that this became the most Swedish of all traditional festivities.

How do Danes celebrate Midsummer?

Scandinavians celebrate Midsummer with

bonfires, lots of food, and enjoying the outdoors

. The bonfires, which are the most common form of celebration, are a pagan ritual to ward off evil that has lasted up to the present day.

What is the difference between summer solstice and Midsummer Day?

The solstice is the beginning of the astronomical summer that has been celebrated since ancient times as the longest day of the year, whereas Midsummer now refers to numerous celebrations that are held over the solstice period, between June 19 and June 24, with both pagan and Christian origins.

Did the Vikings celebrate Midsummer?


Celebrations were likely held in June when Vikings/sailors returned from their voyages

. Upon their long-awaited return, it is likely a community gathering and sumbel was held.

Does the UK celebrate Midsummer?


Celebrations of midsummer have long marked the UK landscape with festivities

. As the day draws closer, we share four places to join in the revelries this year. Every year, upwards of 10,000 revellers descend on Stonehenge for what is the closest thing to a summer solstice festival on British shores.

Do they celebrate Midsummer in Norway?


Norway celebrates Midsummer (and the birth of John the Baptist) each year on June 23

.

Is Midsomer a real festival?

Ari Aster’s Midsommar is

partially based on a real-life Swedish festival

, but the customs don’t involve the same violence and pagan cult activities on show in the horror movie.

How does Denmark celebrate New Year?

Traditionally, New Year’s Eve in Denmark is one big party.

Many Danes see in the new year with friends, eating together and watching the Queen’s New Year speech at 6pm

.

What is celebrated today in Denmark?

English Name Danish Name Date
Constitution Day

Grundlovsdag June 5
Midsummer Sankt Hans Aften June 24 St. Martins Day Sankt Mortens Aften November 11 Little Christmas Eve Lille Juleaften December 23

Do Finnish people celebrate Midsummer?


Midsummer is Finland’s main national holiday

A celebration of the summer solstice, it’s typically spent with friends and family at a summer cottage away from the city. And whether you want to party or relax, there are many ways to get in on the fun.

Is Midsummer Day 21st June?


The 21

st

June is known as Midsummer

. It is the time when the sun achieves its highest arc, at the midsummer solstice. Solstice actually means standstill, so this will be the 3 days when the sun appears to rise at the same point on the horizon each day.

How do you say happy in Midsummer?

How to say “Happy Midsummer” in Swedish.

Glad Midsommar!

Is Midsummer a pagan holiday?

June 21, 2019 – Litha


Litha is a pagan holiday

; one of their eight sabbats during the year. Litha (also known as Midsummer) occurs on the summer solstice, and celebrates the beginning of summer. The traditions of Litha appear to be borrowed from many cultures.

What is the longest day in Denmark?

We’re coming up on

June 21

, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Here in Denmark it starts getting light at 4 in the morning, and the sun doesn’t go down until 10 or so at night, then returns again around at 4 in the morning.

What is midsommar tradition?

Why is 24th June Midsummer’s day?


The early church capitalized on this by creating the Feast of St. John the Baptist on June 24, six months before Christmas, to coincide with Midsummer

(according to the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist was born six months before his cousin, Jesus, which is why this is a fixed date on the 24th).

Is Midsummer Eve a holiday in Sweden?


It is a national holiday in Sweden and Finland

. In Sweden the holiday is officially observed on a Friday between June 19th and 25th, whereas in Finland it is officially celebrated on a Saturday between June 20th and 26th, though festivities begin the preceding Friday evening.

How do pagans celebrate the summer solstice?

Celebrate Solstice time with other Pagans —

take part in the Pagan Spirit Gathering or some other Pagan festival happening during June

. Keep a Sacred Fire burning throughout the gathering. Stay up all night on Solstice Eve and welcome the rising Sun at dawn.

What were Viking feasts called?

What is a Midsommer?

Midsummer is

a celebration of the season of summer usually held at a date around the summer solstice

. It has pagan pre-Christian roots in Europe. Midsummer.

Is Midsummer’s day the longest day?

Midsummer’s Day, the middle of summer, falls on on 24 June,

after the longest day

(Summer Solstice). Before the change of calendars, Midsummer’s day fell on 5 July.

How often is the midsommar festival?

Oh, so that’s how the May Queen stuff works

My question is what is different and unique for the specific event that happens

every 90 years

?” “The last ritual of the film is what happens every 90 years,” Aster explained.

Do they celebrate Midsummer in Iceland?

Jonsmessa – The Icelandic Midsummer


Between the 20th and the 22nd each year Icelanders celebrate the Summer Solstice

. There is no place in the world better to celebrate that than Iceland. The longest day of the year is gorgeously lit by the magical Midnight Sun.

What religion is Midsommar based on?

The Midsommar Celebration Is

Christian-Based

, Not Pagan

Swedish author Po Tidholm, who studies the pagan practices and other traditions of his country, told Esquire that many of the film’s rituals are actually based in Christianity: The Swedish “midsommarstång” or “maypole” is said to be of German, Christian heritage.

What do Danes do at midnight?

What is eaten in Denmark on New Years Eve?

What do the Danish do at midnight New Years Eve?

As the midnight countdown is rung in on Copenhagen’s Rådhus (city hall), it is tradition for everyone

celebrating indoors to switch on the tele and scramble to the highest viewing point (normally this is the sofa) and jump into the new year

.

Is Denmark religious?

Do Danish celebrate Christmas?

In common with much of Europe (but not the UK),

Denmark celebrates Christmas on December 24, Christmas Eve

. Traditionally, that means eating an elaborate Christmas dinner in the evening and opening presents, often late into the night, afterwards. In Denmark, the name for Christmas is jul.

What is traditional Danish food?

  • Stegt Flæsk Med Persillesovs – Fried Pork Belly With Potatoes and Parsley Sauce (National Dish)
  • Brændende Kærlighed – Burning Love. …
  • Smørrebrød – Open Sandwich.
  • Hønsekødssuppe – Chicken Broth Soup.
  • Wienerbrød – Danish Pastries. …
  • Flæskestegssandwich – Pork Burger.
  • Pølser – Hot Dog. …
  • Forlorn Hare – Meatloaf.

Is Midsummer Eve a public holiday in Finland?

Is Midsummer Eve a Public Holiday? While this is

not an official public holiday

, it is traditionally a non-working day for most people including bank employees. Many businesses and banks are closed.

Why is Midsummer celebrated in Finland?


After Christianity arrived in Finland, the Midsummer festival of the pagans became discreetly associated with Christian celebrations

. Also called Juhannus, Midsummer’s Day is now celebrated in the memory of John the Baptist whose birthday is also celebrated during this time.

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.